Football fans can look forward to an exciting evening at the National Stadium on Tuesday as the Australian Men”s National U17 team, known as the CommBank Joeys, takes on the Solomon Islands National U-19 team in a much-anticipated international friendly match starting at 6 PM. This matchup is the first of two matches, with the second scheduled for Saturday, January 24.
These fixtures are part of the 2026 PacificAus Sports Football Tour, which includes the Joeys playing a total of three friendly matches against Fiji”s National U-19 team and two against the Solomon Islands U-19s. The Joeys arrive in Honiara buoyed by their recent 2-0 victory over Fiji, while the Solomon Islands U-19 team is eager to impress their home crowd.
This series also marks the return of the CommBank Joeys to the Solomon Islands, where they last played in 2024. In that previous encounter, the Solomon Islands U-19s celebrated a memorable 2-1 win in the first match, but the Joeys rebounded with a commanding 4-0 victory in the subsequent game.
During a pre-match press conference on Monday, Joeys head coach Carl Veart expressed enthusiasm for the upcoming challenge. “We”re excited for this. The boys performed well in the first game against Fiji, and we are looking forward to the unique challenges posed by the Solomon Islands,” he stated. Veart, who made his debut for the Socceroos in Honiara in 1992, reminisced about the passionate atmosphere, saying, “The crowd noise that day was very loud.”
For Franco Ne”e, the coach of the Solomon Islands National U-19 team, this match will be his first since taking charge earlier this month, marking the team”s initial competitive outing under his leadership. “I believe we have a competitive team, and with the home crowd”s support, we can challenge the young Joeys,” Ne”e remarked. He also emphasized the significance of this experience for his players, many of whom have only participated in local competitions. “This match against the Joeys will be a huge opportunity for them,” he added.
Tickets for the match are available for purchase at the SIFF Headquarters and at the National Stadium on match day, priced at $5 for children and $10 for adults. Fans are encouraged to arrive early to support these future stars of the game. This tour is conducted in partnership with the Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF), Football Australia, and the Australian Government.
Photo caption: Team captains Lawrence Samo (Solomon Islands) and Miles Milliner (Australia) during the pre-match photo shoot. Photo Credit: PacificAus Sports
